Iran to assist with airport construction

The “Coalition of the Willing” is getting bigger – add the name Iran to it.

As part of a six-point agreement between that country and St Vincent and the Grenadines, the Islamic Republic of Iran has agreed to “promptly explore ways in which it can offer support to the construction of the International Airport at Argyle.”{{more}}

After Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves hinted this development during his ministerial address in Parliament on Thursday, July 31, Foreign Affairs Minister, Sir Louis Straker, made the formal announcement at a press conference last Tuesday, August 6.

Sir Louis, who attended the 15th Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), in Tehran, Iran, told reporters that while there, talks were held with the Iranian government with a view to establishing bilateral ties between the two countries.

Sir Louis praised the work of Ambassador Camillo Gonsalves, this country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, whom he said was very instrumental in setting up the meetings with Iranian officials.

Dr Gonsalves is expected to discuss the extent of the support from Iran for the airport, and other matters, including the possibility of securing some education scholarships when he visits that country in the not too distant future, Sir Louis said.

What seems certain is that Iran will become the eighth country to join the unique coalition in the construction of the international airport.

The others are Cuba, Venezuela, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Mexico, Turkey and Austria. The specifics of the contributions of the latter three countries is however yet to be finalized.

The news of Iran’s involvement has been greeted with raised eyebrows by Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition, Arnhim Eustace.

Eustace told SEARCHLIGHT that he was very concerned about the prospect of the Iran being involved in the project.

“I am not comfortable with that, I will be watching this very closely,” Eustace said.

Iran has been described by American president George W Bush as part of what he refers to as “the axis of evil.”

The international community has also expressed concern about Iran’s nuclear energy programmes and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has imposed and widened a series of sanctions against that country for their non- compliance with the UNSC’s demand that they suspend all nuclear energy programmes.

Iran has consistently said that their nuclear programme is for domestic purposes and that they do not intend to create a nuclear bomb. They have pointed to their booming population and their increasing demand for energy, saying that nuclear energy is a necessary supplement energy source, if their ever-increasing need is to be satisfied.

“Nuclear energy must not be equaled to a nuclear bomb. This is a disservice to the society of man,” Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is quoted as saying just last month.

During the discussions with Iranian government officials, including Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, Sir Louis said that Iran’s side of the nuclear power discussion was explained.

He said that based on what Iranian officials said at the NAM conference and in the bilateral talks; he has no reason to doubt that Iran’s nuclear program is as they say it is.

“…Nobody knows for sure…even the United States cannot say for sure it is otherwise…I have no reason to doubt them (The Iranians).”

Sir Louis is however convinced that Eustace’s concerns have nothing to do with the international community’s ongoing tussle with Iran.

“I think it is a political campaign, because they see it (the airport) as the political death of their party,” Sir Louis told SEARCHLIGHT.

“They lambasted Cuba, they lambasted Venezuela, and now they are lambasting Iran, well let them produce the money to build the airport,” Sir Louis said.

He reiterated that the government’s foreign policy includes the establishing of relationships with non-traditional allies, and said the new relationships will by no means compromise the principles by which St Vincent and the Grenadines functions, and isn’t at the expense of the traditional allies like the United States of America. (KJ)